Alfred Bryan, born on September 15, 1871, in Brantford, Ontario, Canada, was a prominent Canadian lyricist known for his significant contributions to early 20th-century music. Educated in parochial schools, Bryan moved to New York, where he joined the staff of several publishing firms and became a key figure in Broadway musical theatre. He wrote lyrics for numerous Broadway shows, including "The Shubert Gaieties of 1919," "The Midnight Rounders" (1920, 1921), "The Century Revue," and "A Night in Spain."

Bryan was a charter member of ASCAP in 1914 and collaborated with various composers such as Fred Fisher, Al Piantadosi, and Jean Schwartz. Among his most successful works was the song "I Didn't Raise My Boy to Be a Soldier" (1915), which resonated with the American public's anti-war sentiments and sold 650,000 copies in its first three months. Other notable songs include "Peg O' My Heart" and "Come Josephine in My Flying Machine."

In the 1920s, Bryan relocated to Hollywood to write lyrics for screen musicals, further expanding his influence in the music industry. His enduring legacy was recognized with his posthumous induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970. Alfred Bryan passed away on April 1, 1958, in Gladstone, New Jersey, at the age of 86.